UFC Champ Germaine de Randamie: ‘Holly deserves it first to settle things up’ on fighting Holly Holm over Cris Cyborg

UFC women’s featherweight champion Germaine de Randamie has denied claims that she’s running away from Cris “Cyborg” Justino. De Randamie wants to prioritize giving Holly Holm a rematch to clear the controversy regarding their last bout.

“I completely understand people want to see that fight, and that fight will eventually happen, but first I got to fight Holly to clear everything up,” she said. “Everything that has been said, I think she deserves the rematch, first. A few weeks ago, it wasn’t clear if Cyborg would be cleared to fight soon, now that she’s cleared (with USADA), if the fight is going to happen, it will happen anyway, but Holly deserves it first to settle things up.”

After beating Holly Holm at UFC 208, Germaine de Randamie made a history by becoming the first UFC women’s featherweight champion. However, some people weren’t convinced with how de Randamie got the belt. In the second and third round, de Randamie was caught hitting Holm even after the horn sounded.

Instead of giving her a point deduction for the illegal blows, referee Todd Anderson only gave de Randamie a warning. If she was penalized, the outcome of the match would result in a draw and no champion would have been crowned. UFC champ Germaine de Randamie apologized to Holly Holm and said that it wasn’t intentional.

However, Holm isn’t buying her excuses and demanded a rematch. The former UFC women’s bantamweight champ also filed a complaint against Anderson, hoping that the outcome of the bout would change. Though de Randamie is willing to give her a second bout, UFC president Dana White might be against the rematch.

Cris “Cyborg” says Holly Holm doesn’t deserve a rematch

White has already admitted in the past that the women’s featherweight division was created because of Cris “Cyborg” Justino. Now, that she’s cleared to fight again, “Cyborg” should be given the chance to fight for the title. “Cyborg” also said that Holm doesn’t deserve a rematch after losing three consecutive fights.

“I don’t think Holly Holm deserves the rematch now. I really don’t think so. I think Germaine won the fight,” Justino said while appearing on The MMA Hour. “I think she should fight again and get a win. She fought Germaine for the belt and had two losses in a row. I don’t think the rematch is going to happen. I don’t think she deserves to fight again with Germaine.”

As of now, there has been no official announcement regarding de Randamie’s first title defense. She will be having a hand surgery which could delay her next fight either against Holm or Cyborg.